An ancient farming skill is finding a new generation of supporters, with thousands of farmers in England applying for funding to restore mature hedgerows.
If approved, the applications would see around 1,300km of hedges – roughly 800 miles – laid by hand. That is enough to stretch from Land’s End to Hadrian’s Wall and back, bringing fresh life to habitat that supports wildlife, stores carbon and helps slow down water during heavy rain.
Farmers turn back to traditional hedge laying
Hedge laying involves partly cutting through stems before carefully lowering them at an angle. The technique encourages fresh growth from the cuts, fills gaps and keeps hedges bushy, healthy and useful for both nature and farming.
The craft dates back thousands of years and was particularly widespread during the 18th and 19th centuries. It declined sharply after the second world war, according to Megan Gimber, key habitats officer at the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.
Hedge laying was one of the four most popular choices among farmers applying for a share of £225m in government capital grants for practical environmental improvements.
“These grants will give 1,300km of potentially ancient hedges a new lease of life,” Gimber said, describing the level of interest as fantastic.
Hedgerows help farms and wildlife
Mature, well-managed hedgerows can capture more carbon per hectare than forests, while providing shelter and shade for livestock. They also support thousands of species, reduce soil erosion and absorb and store rainwater, helping to lower flood risk.
Stephen Budding, chair of the National Hedgelaying Society, said the biggest biodiversity benefits came from laying older hedges. He added that members were seeing a surge in work, helped by the availability of government grants.
At Rosewood Farm in Ellerton, in Yorkshire’s Lower Derwent valley, Robert Rose is waiting for approval for work on old blackthorn, newer hawthorn, ash and willow hedges. The 220-acre farm is run by Rose with his brother and wife.
The family has taught itself the traditional craft and uses a modern conservation style designed to retain bushy growth for nesting birds while keeping livestock contained. Their application would cover about 50 metres of hedge, alongside new planting and coppicing.
Rose said the farm had noticed more birds and small mammals around mature, managed hedges. He has also seen growing interest among farmers in local communities, describing hedge laying as a gateway to wider conservation work.
New hedges need long-term care
About 5,000 grant applications seek funding to plant new hedges, covering approximately 2,500km. However, conservation experts warn that planting alone is not enough: hedges need ongoing management to survive and remain valuable habitat.
Research from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, published in 2023, found that the country was still losing hedges despite record planting efforts, partly because of over-trimming and under-management.
The main hedge-laying season runs from October to February. Farmers awaiting decisions from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will therefore be hoping for prompt approval before the winter work begins.
